GREATER Western Sydney coach Leon Cameron has played down his team's newfound status as equal premiership favourites, despite thumping the Sydney Swans by 36 points on Saturday.
The Giants booted seven goals to two after half-time to win through to a home preliminary final at Spotless Stadium in a fortnight, with some betting agencies slashing their flag odds, seeing them equal with Geelong in this year's market.
Cameron was naturally ecstatic by his side's second win in a row over the minor premiers, but moved quickly to hose down the hype surrounding the historic result.
"I'm rapt for the footy club, but as you know it just chops and changes," Cameron said.
"There's so many twists and turns in this competition, and I'm sure there's going to more over the coming weeks.
WATCH: Leon Cameron's full post-match press conference
"We have to prepare like we prepared for this game, because someone will beat us in the preliminary final if we do not come with that same sort of attitude.
"Have we put ourselves in a good position? Yes we have.
"But by no means do we look at it and think we're in the box seat, because you never write off the Hawks, and you never write off the Swans.
"What's going to happen over these next three weeks is going to be intriguing."
The AFL's post-season bye has copped plenty of criticism over the past fortnight, but Cameron said he's happy with how his players handled the week off.
"We thought we nailed the bye, with our effort today, and we have to nail it again," he said.
"We'll be really aggressive in our training, especially later in the week, and we have too.
"We try to replicate games as much as we can at the back end of next week, because nothing beats a hardened footy team.
"Our challenge is to do it again in 14 days time."
After facing plenty of unwanted attention over the past two weeks for his part in a drug scandal, which is under investigation by the AFL, midfielder Lachie Whitfield was brilliant for the winners with 27 possessions, six tackles and a goal.
Cameron praised his young star for the way he's handled the controversy.
"It's been an interesting two weeks for him," he said.
"But his training has been absolutely phenomenal and he clearly wasn't affected by the situation that he's been involved in.
"To be a really good contributor in a big final, against a really physical side, speaks volumes for Lachie (Whitfield).
"He's a confident young kid, and when I asked him if he was ready to roll, he came back really quick and said he'd be fine.
"I was rapt with his game."
